West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan are key priorities due to an increase in hotspots..
Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Ministry of Forestry is making use of favorable cloud development to strengthen weather modification operations aimed at tackling forest and land fires, particularly in Riau, Central Kalimantan and West Kalimantan.
In a statement received on Wednesday, Ristianto Pribadi, Head of the Ministry of Forestry’s Bureau of Public Relations and Foreign Cooperation, said coordination with data from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) was critical to determining the most suitable locations and timing for weather modification operations.
Weather modification operations in Central Kalimantan are being conducted from August 11 to 15, while operations in West Kalimantan are scheduled for August 13 to 17 to take advantage of favorable cloud development.
Meanwhile, weather modification efforts in Riau have been underway since July 30 and will continue through August 22.
“West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan are key priorities due to an increase in hotspots and smoke dispersion,” Ristianto said.
A BMKG report issued on August 12, 2026, forecast moderate to high potential for cloud development in West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan from August 13 to 16.
The agency’s data showed that the number of hotspots in West Kalimantan rose from 98 to 136 compared with the previous day.
Central Kalimantan recorded an increase from 29 to 78 hotspots, while South Kalimantan saw a rise from 10 to 31.
The situation remains a major concern as smoke haze has also been detected in several areas of Kalimantan, with BMKG noting indications of transboundary haze moving from West Kalimantan into Sarawak.
“We will make the most of the identified cloud potential to support weather modification operations. This is part of our joint effort to mitigate forest and land fire risks, particularly in areas currently experiencing a rise in hotspots and smoke,” he said.
The Ministry of Forestry has warned both the public and corporations against clearing land using fire.
Ristianto stressed that violations would be subject to legal action, adding that strict law enforcement was necessary to serve as a deterrent.
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Translator: Prisca Triferna, Raka Adji
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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